The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Hour 2 Summary

Episode Date: September 22, 2025
Main Theme:
A deep dive into the NFL’s wild weekend, breaking down where Colin’s predictions hit or missed, the evolution of the Eagles offense, the state of top quarterbacks and head coaches, and insightful analysis from guest Matt Hasselbeck.

Show Structure & Key Segments

1. Where Colin Was Right & Where Colin Was Wrong (03:43–10:08)

Overview:
Colin revisits his boldest takes from the previous week, owning his mistakes and emphasizing humility, while celebrating the calls he nailed.

Highlights & Analysis:

• Jim Harbaugh’s Success:
  Colin lauds Harbaugh’s knack for winning ugly and credits the Chargers’ win to his coaching, especially his trust in Quentin Johnston.

  • Quote: “Harbaugh has in his career found ways to win ugly games. … Chargers win a game because they have the greatest football coach of all time.” (03:45)

• Packers’ Disappointing Loss:
  Colin admits the Packers, once his number one team, came out flat against Cleveland despite extra rest, flashing possible energy concerns in the squad.

• Kyle Shanahan’s QB Whisperer Reputation:
  Colin doubles down on his belief in Shanahan’s ability to resurrect quarterbacks, praising Mac Jones’ hot start with 80 pass attempts in two weeks for the Niners.

• Texans & C.J. Stroud Woes:
  Colin concedes his ongoing defense of C.J. Stroud is no longer justified, pointing out poor stat lines and a stuck offense under a defensive-minded head coach.

  • Quote: “I keep defending him and I am wrong.” (06:19)

• Carson Wentz Over J.J. McCarthy (For Now):
  Defends Wentz as one of the most talented backup QBs and believes the Vikings staff knows how to utilize him.

• Revival of Daniel Jones:
  Surprised by Jones’ downfield aggression and success and eats crow for previously writing him off.

  • Quote: “Forget Danny Dimes. He’s Danny Dollars. He is dealing it, baby.” (07:17)

• Jaden Maiava’s Transformation at USC:
  Points out the dramatic improvement in Maiava’s decision-making and efficiency, crediting Lincoln Riley’s coaching.

• Marvin Harrison’s Struggles:
  Calls out Harrison for not living up to expectations, questioning his ability to separate and make plays in the pros.

• Cade Klubnik Disappointment:
  Wonders what happened to the Clemson QB, noting total regression and blaming organizational stubbornness regarding transfer portal use.

2. Interview: Matt Hasselbeck Joins (10:08–24:16)

Chicago Bears’ Breakout Win Over Dallas (10:13–13:23)

• Colin: Impressed with the rhythm, diversity, and execution of the Bears’ offense:
  “There was a rhythm, Matt, to the offense … I did sense a rhythm. Or is that just Dallas’s bad defense?” (10:13)
• Hasselbeck: Gives credit to both—Bears’ timing, accuracy, and pass-protection and Dallas’ embarrassing defensive effort. Notes how easy the touchdowns looked for Chicago.
  • Quote: “There really wasn’t a lot of contested touchdowns…these were stand-up, nobody-near-me-type touchdowns…equally as embarrassing for Dallas.” (11:08)
• On Mentality After a Win vs. a Bad Team:
  Hasselbeck stresses the importance of not letting flaws slide after a win:
  “Never apologize for a win…But after a win, sometimes you sweep things under the rug…You don’t necessarily improve.” (12:17)

Quarterback Protection & Harbaugh’s Influence (13:23–15:46)

• Colin: Emphasizes the toll of constant pressure on QBs like Justin Herbert.
• Hasselbeck: Draws parallels to Andrew Luck, praises Harbaugh’s prioritization of physicality and limiting Herbert’s exposure to hits, which has improved Herbert’s play and health.
  “Protecting him a little bit is a way to unleash him.” (15:46)

Eagles Halftime Adjustment: Unleashing AJ Brown (15:57–17:32)

• Colin: Marvels at the Eagles' flip from a disastrous first half to a dynamic comeback.
• Hasselbeck: Explains the probable halftime shift: making A.J. Brown the focal point, exploiting man coverage.
  • Quote: “I saw a team that came in at halftime and said, hey, AJ needs to be a part of this. … When A.J. Brown’s getting opportunities, the Philly offense unlocks.” (16:17–17:12)

Seattle’s Use of Sam Darnold and Offensive Identity (17:42–19:46)

• Colin: Praises Seattle’s player development and talent, marvels at the team’s transformation.
• Hasselbeck: Credits coach Mike Macdonald, shifting back to play-action and fullback usage, which suits Darnold and opens up the offense.
  “When offensive linemen get to fire out and play run action at least half the time, it helps everything.” (18:22)

Kansas City’s Offensive Troubles & Outlook (19:46–21:43)

• Colin: Stresses that the Chiefs’ issues go deeper than receiver play; suspects it’s structural.
• Hasselbeck: Acknowledges they seem out of sync, likens it to a bored NBA team waiting for the playoffs, but expects them to be playoff-relevant, potentially as a road team.

Potential Trades & Tyreek Hill Watch (21:43–22:00)

• Insight: The NFL’s trade deadline could bring high-profile moves, with speculation about Kansas City possibly eyeing a reunion with Tyreek Hill if Miami’s season collapses.

Josh Allen’s Evolution from Reckless to Refined (22:00–24:11)

• Colin: Amazed at Allen’s ability to eliminate turnovers, contrary to his past tendency and typical QB “DNA.”
  • Quote: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that.” (22:40)
• Hasselbeck: Praises Allen’s year-by-year growth and the coaching staff for harnessing his physicality into safe, designed runs.
  “It’s almost like the illusion of reckless, but it’s really within the play design.” (23:17)

3. Rapid Reactions & Notable Stats (24:18–25:56)

• Packers’ Collapse at Cleveland:
  Colin and J. Mac express shock at the Packers’ flatness despite extra prep.
• Wild QB Stats:
  Seven notable QBs (Stafford, Love, Wilson, Murray, Bo Nix, Rodgers, Young) threw for under 200 yards, highlighting the unpredictability and defensive dominance of the week.

4. Eagles’ Identity and A.J. Brown Discussion (25:51–25:56)

• Trading AJ Brown?
  Colin humorously shuts down speculation about trading AJ Brown mid-season:

  • Quote: “I’ll pull that take over to a rest area … we’ll wait a little bit on that.” (25:56)

5. NFL Headlines & Debate (31:21–41:59)

Kansas City Chiefs Drama: Andy Reid & Travis Kelce Sideline Exchange (31:38–34:15)

• Jason McIntyre: Highlights apparent tension between Reid and Kelce, reinforced by Kelce’s subdued stats.
• Colin: Minimizes concern, comparing it to other great coach-angry player dynamics, emphasizing that championship teams often clash when the pressure mounts.

Cowboys’ Playoff Prospects and Roster Concerns (34:36–38:11)

• Colin: Acknowledges the Cowboys are “very top-heavy,” emphasizing how injuries to stars like CeeDee Lamb or Micah Parsons reveal the roster’s lack of depth.
  “If CeeDee Lamb gets hurt, there’s nobody that separates on this receiving core.” (37:11)
• Jason: Suggests Dallas should consider trading defensive assets if the season spirals early.

State of AFC/NFC Playoff Contenders (38:35–39:21)

• Colin: Likes Buffalo and Baltimore in the AFC but notes every NFC team but Philadelphia has “holes.”
  “Philadelphia has bad halves, but they don't have roster liabilities, I don't think.” (39:08)

College Football Notes (39:21–42:03)

• Belichick at UNC:
  The Tar Heels get blown out, raising questions about Belichick’s offensive coaching tree minus Tom Brady.
• Weekend Games to Watch:
  Oregon at Penn State, Bama at Georgia, USC at Illinois, LSU at Ole Miss get shoutouts as must-see matchups.

6. Final Thoughts on Coaches and Quarterbacks (47:04–52:43)

Resilient QBs Thrive with Great Coaches:
Colin emphasizes that today’s offensive innovations mean quarterbacks get multiple chances to resurrect their careers under the right coach (Mac Jones with Shanahan, Daniel Jones with Vikings).

Harbaugh/Herbert Partnership Lauded:
Colin continues praising the unique synergy between Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert, framing them as one of coaching/QB’s best pairings and comparing them to iconic duos.

• Quote: “Harbaugh and Herbert take a back seat to nobody…They’re the Batman and Robin of the NFL.” (49:52–52:43)

Notable Quotes

• “Forget Danny Dimes. He’s Danny Dollars. He is dealing it, baby.”
  —Colin Cowherd (07:17)

• “When A.J. Brown’s getting opportunities, the Philly offense unlocks.”
  —Matt Hasselbeck (17:12)

• “Protecting [Herbert] a little bit is a way to unleash him.”
  —Matt Hasselbeck (15:46)

• “He’s been awesome. Teammates love him, the stadium loves him … the opponent fears him.”
  —Matt Hasselbeck on Josh Allen (23:40)

• “Harbaugh and Herbert are the Batman and Robin of the NFL.”
  —Colin Cowherd (51:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:43 — Where Colin Was Right/Wrong open
• 10:08 — Matt Hasselbeck joins the show
• 15:57 — Eagles’ halftime adjustments & A.J. Brown focus
• 18:22 — Seattle’s revitalized offense and Darnold praise
• 19:46 — Kansas City’s stagnation, possible Tyreek Hill trade
• 22:00 — Josh Allen’s evolution
• 31:21 — Headline: Chiefs sideline drama
• 34:36 — Debate: Cowboys’ future, roster concerns
• 39:21 — College football weekend preview
• 47:04 — Quarterbacks’ career revivals thanks to coaching
• 49:52 — Harbaugh & Herbert synergy praise

Tone and Style

• Colin is opinionated, self-deprecating, and occasionally contrarian—always looking for proof points to support or reconsider his bold positions.
• Matt Hasselbeck provides an “insider” player’s voice—measured, detail-oriented, and practical.
• Jason McIntyre peppers in news, reality checks, and playful banter.
• The show blends smart analysis, humor, humility, and strong takes, making it accessible even for casual fans.

Episode Takeaways

• NFL parity is at an all-time high: Heavy favorites stumble, and established stats are overturned in any given week.
• Elite coaching still makes the difference: Teams like the Chargers, 49ers, and resurgent Seahawks point to the importance of coaching resilience and adaptability.
• Quarterback play is evolving: Smart play design and protection can transform or rejuvenate seemingly broken quarterbacks.
• Top-heavy rosters can unravel quickly: The Cowboys are a cautionary tale.
• Eagles’ offense runs through A.J. Brown: When the game plan shifts to feature him, the entire scheme opens up.
• Candid humility enhances credibility: Colin’s willingness to own bad takes adds authenticity.

For listeners who missed the episode, this hour offered a masterclass in NFL trends, strong personalities, and the power of great partnerships—whether on the field, the sideline, or the headset.